sedar Imperfect Conjugation
sedar — to sedate
Use imperfect for past habits or descriptions like 'sedaba' (I used to sedate) or 'sedaban' (they used to sedate).
sedar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
The imperfect tense is for describing ongoing actions or habits in the past without a clear beginning or end. It sets the scene: 'Cuando era niño, me sedaban para los exámenes' (When I was a child, they used to sedate me for exams) or describes a state: 'La sala estaba oscura y me sedaban lentamente' (The room was dark and they were sedating me slowly).
Notes on sedar in the Imperfect
Sedar is regular in the imperfect indicative tense.
Example Sentences
Antes, el dentista me sedaba para las extracciones.
Before, the dentist used to sedate me for extractions.
él/ella/usted
Cuando éramos jóvenes, nos sedaban para los vuelos largos.
When we were young, they used to sedate us for long flights.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Tú sedabas a los perros con frecuencia.
You used to sedate the dogs frequently.
tú
Yo sedaba mi ansiedad con música.
I used to sedate my anxiety with music.
yo
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite 'sedó' for a past habit.
Correct: For past habits or ongoing descriptions, use the imperfect: 'Antes, el doctor me sedaba'.
Why: The preterite marks a completed action, while the imperfect describes continuous or habitual actions in the past.
Mistake: Confusing the 'yo' and 'él/ella/usted' forms.
Correct: Both are 'sedaba', but context clarifies who is performing the action.
Why: This is a common feature of the imperfect tense for -ar verbs; rely on the subject pronoun or context.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'sedar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: sedo
Use the present tense for actions happening now, habits, or general truths about sedating.
Preterite
yo: sedé
Use the preterite for completed actions like 'sedé' (I sedated), 'sedó' (he/she sedated).
Future
yo: sedaré
Use the future tense for actions that will happen, like 'sedaré' (I will sedate) or 'sedarán' (they will sedate).
Conditional
yo: sedaría
Use conditional for hypotheticals ('sedaría' - I would sedate) or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: sede
Use present subjunctive like sede, sedes, seden after expressions of doubt, desire, or emotion.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: sedara
Use imperfect subjunctive like sedara or sedase for past hypotheticals, wishes, or doubts.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: seda
Use imperative forms like seda (tú), sedad (vosotros), sede (usted) for direct commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no sedes
Negative commands use 'no' plus the present subjunctive, e.g., no sedes (tú), no seden (ustedes).